Leading transportation and logistics service provider Cargo Carriers has proved its ongoing commitment to achieving Broad-Based Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) by not only improving its rating from a Level Seven Contributor to BBBEE in 2008 to that of a Level Six Contributor in 2009, but by also achieving the status of a Value-Adding Supplier in this year’s audit.

Cargo Carriers, a specialised transportation, supply chain and logistics service provider which offers a full suite of transportation solutions in industry verticals, namely sugar, steel, powders, fuel and chemicals, was verified as a Level Six Contributor and a Value-Adding Supplier by the National Empowerment Rating Agency (NERA) on 17 July 2009.

This achievement is of major benefit to Cargo Carriers’ customers as it allows them to claim 60 points, plus a further 1.25 factor for Cargo Carriers’ Value-Adding Supplier status, bringing the total points that customers are able to claim to 75 points.

Having achieved high scores for Preferential Procurement, currently standing at 18.3 out of a maximum of 20 points, a full 15 out of 15 points for Enterprise Development and a full five out of five points for Social Investment, Cargo Carriers is working on other areas to further improve their BBBEE rating in 2010. This includes several new AA appointments and other initiatives which have already been implemented.

Of particular significance is the appointment of Shaneel Maharaj as Financial Director of the main board, as well as Siza Mzimela and Matsotso Vuso as independent non-executive directors. Skills development continues to be a focus area for the company with R2 million having been allocated by the company for skills development training and 15 learnerships to be introduced..

“Cargo Carriers is proud to have significantly improved its BBBEE rating in the past year. Not only does it reaffirm our position as one of the most pro-active companies in the logistics industry when it comes to employment equity initiatives, it is also evidence of our ongoing efforts and dedication to achieving real empowerment – the benefits of which extend to our employees, our customers and the communities in which we operate,” said Andre Jansen van Vuuren, Divisional Marketing Director of Cargo Carriers Ltd.